Sustainability

Every choice matters.

Sustainability takes shape through the everyday actions of the people who study, teach, conduct research, and work at UniSR. To foster greater awareness and encourage responsible behaviours, we promote awareness campaigns dedicated to sustainability and concrete initiatives that engage the entire university community. Among them, the We've got our Planet's back campaign highlights our shared responsibility to care for the planet through our daily actions.

This commitment is reflected in everyday Campus life through initiatives aimed at promoting the sustainable management of resources and reducing our environmental impact.

• Recycling stations and separate waste collection
  More than 120 recycling stations across the Olgettina and Milano 2 campuses promote separate waste collection and help reduce plastic use in shared spaces.
• Less paper, smarter printing
  By introducing a print monitoring system and progressively replacing local printers with multifunction devices, UniSR is optimising paper consumption with the goal of reducing the overall number of printed pages by 10% by 2026.
• Less plastic, healthier choices
  Students and staff have access to drinking water stations across Campus to refill the reusable UniSR water bottle provided free of charge. Through this initiative, UniSR encourages a simple everyday habit that helps reduce single-use plastic consumption and the emissions associated with transporting bottled water, while promoting healthy hydration.
• Improving energy efficiency across Campus
  UniSR invests in projects aimed at improving the energy efficiency of its facilities. These include the installation of a photovoltaic system at the Cassinella Residence, which generates electricity from renewable sources, and the gradual replacement of lighting systems with more energy-efficient solutions. Together, these initiatives help reduce energy consumption and the emissions associated with Campus operations.
• Sustainable mobility
  The Home-to-Work Mobility Plan, developed with the support of the University's Mobility Manager, regularly analyses commuting patterns within the UniSR community and identifies measures to encourage more sustainable travel. These include:
  - Maintaining the University's smart working policy.
  - Improving infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians through the installation of bicycle repair stations and additional bike parking, as well as the introduction of bike-sharing services.
  - Strengthening public transport by establishing a working group involving local municipalities, the TPL and ATM.
• A Cleaner Campus for the Wellbeing of the Entire Community
  Taking care of the Campus means protecting both its shared spaces and the wellbeing of the people who use them. UniSR has joined the Re-Cig programme, which includes the installation of 12 Smoker Points dedicated to the collection and recycling of cigarette butts. The initiative is supported by the Drop the habit, not the trace! communication campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the impact our behaviour has on the environment and on our own health, as well as the wellbeing of the entire community.

Sustainability at UniSR also means fostering respect, inclusion, and the wellbeing of people. Among the University's awareness and training initiatives is the We've got each other's back campaign, which highlights our shared responsibility to care for the people who are part of our community.

This commitment is also reflected in concrete initiatives that promote equal opportunities, workplace wellbeing, and the prevention of all forms of discrimination, in line with the work of the Equal Opportunities Committee (Comitato Unico di Garanzia – CUG):

• Gender Equality Plan
  The Gender Equality Plan and the Gender Agent, together with seminars, discussion forums, and awareness initiatives, promote equity, inclusion, and equal opportunities across the University.
• Inclusive language
  UniSR promotes inclusive communication through the adoption of its Inclusive Language Guidelines, addressed to the entire university community.
• Protecting personal dignity
  The Regulations for the Protection of Personal Dignity define clear procedures for reporting incidents of harassment safely and confidentially, whether experienced directly or witnessed.
• Supporting the University community
  Placing people at the centre is one of UniSR's core values. For this reason, the University promotes services and initiatives that support the wellbeing of its community, providing students and staff with opportunities for listening, support, and participation that recognise and value each person as a whole. These include UniAscolta for professional services staff, the Counselling Service for students, the Campus Care programme, and support for the University's sports groups.
• Alias Careers
  The Alias Career programme enables students, academic staff, and professional services staff to use an identity within the University that reflects their gender identity.

Since 2021, UniSR has been a member of the Network of Universities for Sustainable Development (RUS – Rete delle Università per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile), promoted by the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI).

The Network brings together Italian universities committed to advancing sustainability, fostering the exchange of best practices, the development of joint initiatives, and collaboration towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Contribution of Research Publications to the SDGs (% of Total Publications)*

*The data indicate the percentage representation of each SDG across UniSR's scientific publications published between 2017 and 2025. Source: SciVal (Elsevier).

To learn more about UniSR's commitment to sustainability, read the dedicated section of the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan: